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Read the Bible

Simplified Cowboy Version

Mark 2:9

Is it easier to say that a man's sins are forgotten or is it easier to tell him to get up and walk?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Miracles;   Unbelief;   Scofield Reference Index - Forgiveness;   Parables;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Miracles of Christ, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Miracle;   Palsy;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jesus christ;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Forgiveness;   Jesus Christ;   Miracle;   Salvation;   Sin;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Palsy;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Diseases;   Forgiveness;   Mark, the Gospel of;   Pallet;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Peter, First Epistle of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Almsgiving ;   Authority of Christ;   Bed;   Brotherhood (2);   Character;   Consciousness;   Cures;   Impotence;   Logia;   Lord's Supper (Ii);   Miracles (2);   Paralysis;   Perplexity;   Questions and Answers;   Salvation;   Walk (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bed, Bedstead;   Miracles;   Palsy;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bed;   Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Naphtali;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Forgiveness;   Mark, the Gospel According to;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for June 8;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Which is easier:
King James Version (1611)
Whether is it easier to say to the sicke of the palsie, Thy sinnes be forgiuen thee: or to say, Arise, and take vp thy bed and walke?
King James Version
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
English Standard Version
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk'?
New American Standard Bible
"Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?
New Century Version
Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to tell him, ‘Stand up. Take your mat and walk'?
Amplified Bible
"Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your mat and walk'?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?
Legacy Standard Bible
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk'?
Berean Standard Bible
"Which is easier: to say to a paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'?
Contemporary English Version
Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and pick up his mat and go on home?
Complete Jewish Bible
Which is easier to say to the paralyzed man? ‘Your sins are forgiven'? or ‘Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk'?
Darby Translation
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, [Thy] sins are forgiven [thee]; or to say, Arise, and take up thy couch and walk?
Easy-to-Read Version
The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say to the crippled man, ‘Your sins are forgiven.' There's no proof it really happened. But what if I say to the man, ‘Stand up. Take your mat and walk'? Then you will be able to see if I really have this power or not." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man,
Geneva Bible (1587)
Whether is it easier to say to the sicke of the palsie, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee? or to say, Arise, and take vp thy bed, and walke?
George Lamsa Translation
Which is the easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise, take up your quilt-bed and walk?
Good News Translation
Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'?
Lexham English Bible
Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say ‘Get up and pick up your stretcher and walk'?
Literal Translation
Which is easier? To say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven to you, or to say, Rise up and take your cot and walk?
American Standard Version
Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
Bible in Basic English
Which is the simpler, to say to a man who is ill, You have forgiveness for your sins, or, Get up, take up your bed, and go?
Hebrew Names Version
Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'
International Standard Version
Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your cot, and walk'?Matthew 9:5;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Forgiven are thy sins, or to say, Arise, lift up thy couch, and walk ?
Murdock Translation
Which is the easier, to say to a paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven thee? or to say, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Whether is it easyer to say to the sicke of the paulsie, thy synnes be forgeuen thee: or to say, aryse, take vp thy bedde, and walke?
English Revised Version
Whether is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
World English Bible
Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Which is easier? To say to the paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven thee?
Weymouth's New Testament
Which is easier?--to say to this paralytic, `Your sins are pardoned,' or to say, `Rise, take up your mat, and walk?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What is liyter to seie to the sijk man in palesie, Synnes ben foryouun to thee, or to seie, Ryse, take thi bed, and walke?
Update Bible Version
Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?
Webster's Bible Translation
Which is easier, to say to the sick with the palsy, [Thy] sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
New English Translation
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk'?
New King James Version
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise, take up your bed and walk'?
New Living Translation
Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'?
New Life Bible
Which is easier to say to the sick man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up, take your bed, and start to walk?'
New Revised Standard
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk'?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Which is easier - to say unto the paralytic, Forgiven are thy sins, or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and be walking?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy: Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say: Arise, take up thy bed and walk?
Revised Standard Version
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk'?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Whether is it easyer to saye to ye sicke of ye palsie thy synnes are forgeven the or to saye aryse take vp thy beed and walke?
Young's Literal Translation
which is easier, to say to the paralytic, The sins have been forgiven to thee? or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and walk?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whether is easier to saye to the sicke of the palsye: Thy synnes are forgeue the, or to saye: aryse, take vp thy bed and walke.
Mace New Testament (1729)
is it not as easy to say to the paralytic, thy sins are forgiven: as to say, arise, and take up your bed and walk?

Contextual Overview

1A few days later, Jesus rode back to Capernaum and news spread quickly that he was back in the home country. 2So many people gathered at the house Jesus was at that there was no longer any room to stand, not even by the door. But Jesus preached the good news to all who were there and could hear him. 3Some people brought a paralyzed fellow to see him, but they couldn't even get in the house. 4These guys were so adamant about getting their friend to Jesus that they climbed up on the roof and dug out the section right above where he was talking. They lowered their friend on a stretcher right down in front of him. Jesus smiled and admired their boldness and their faith. 5He said to the paralyzed man, "Your sins have been forgotten." 6There were some religious experts watching and they were all thinking, 7"Who does this cowboy think he is? Only God can forgive sins." 8Quick as a cow kick, Jesus knew exactly what these so called "religious experts" were thinking. He decided to clear the air. He asked them, "Why are your thoughts so screwed up with what I just did? 9Is it easier to say that a man's sins are forgotten or is it easier to tell him to get up and walk? 10But just so you know that God's Top Hand has the authority on earth to forget sins . . ." He turned to the paralyzed man and said,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

is it: Matthew 9:5, Luke 5:22-25

Thy sins: Mark 2:5

Reciprocal: Luke 5:23 - General John 5:11 - General

Cross-References

John 6:48
I am the bread of life.
1 Corinthians 8:1
I know there's been a lot of talk about what to do about food that's been sacrificed to idols. Everyone seems to have a different "right" answer. Thinking you are right might make you feel like a big shot, but it is loving each other that makes us strong.
Revelation 2:7
Open your ears and pay attention to what the Spirit has to say to the seven outfits. To those who finish their hard ride for me, I will give freely to them the fruit from the tree of life that sits in the middle of paradise.
Revelation 22:2
It flowed down the middle of the street. On each side of the street grew a tree of life that makes fruit twelve times a year. Its leaves will heal the nations.
Revelation 22:14
No one who washes their white shirts and eats from the tree of life will be disappointed. None will regret being able to walk through the gates of the town.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy,.... This question was put to them by Christ, in order to prove his deity, and clear himself from the charge of blasphemy; for he that could cure the sick of the palsy, by a word speaking, had power to forgive him his sins: and therefore proposes it to them, which was easiest to say,

thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? Both of them were easy to say, but not with power and effect: they were both instances of divine power, and proofs of deity; and only he that could do the one, could do the other, and the one was as easy to be performed, by a divine person, as the other: and though it may be hard to say which is the greatest instance of power, or the strongest proof of deity, to pardon a sinner, or to cure a paralytic by a word speaking; perhaps forgiveness of sin may be the greatest evidence of divine power and goodness; however, it is certain, it is a greater blessing to be pardoned, than to be cured of a palsy; yet curing of a palsy, in the manner in which Christ did it, was a more sensible proof of his deity to the Scribes and Pharisees, than pronouncing a man's sins forgiven; because this was visible, and could not be denied; whereas the other, though pronounced, they might question whether it had its effect: but by the one, which they would see done before their eyes, there would be left no room for them to doubt of the reality of the other;

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this miracle explained in Matthew 9:2-8.

Palsy - See the notes at Matthew 4:24.

Borne of four - Carried upon a couch Matthew 9:2 by four men.

Mark 2:4

The press - The crowd, the multitude of people. Jesus was probably in the large open area or hall in the center of the house. See the notes at Matthew 9:2. The people pressed into the area, and blocked up the door so that they could not have access to him.

They uncovered the roof where he was - See the notes at Matthew 9:2.

When they had broken it up - When they had removed the awning or covering, so that they could let the man down. See the notes at Matthew 9:2.

Mark 2:5

Their faith - Their confidence or belief that he could heal them.

Son - Literally, “child.” The Hebrews used the words “son” and “child” with a great latitude of signification. They were applied to children, to grandchildren, to adopted children, to any descendants, to disciples, followers, young people, and to dependents. See the notes at Matthew 1:1. In this place it denotes affection or kindness. It was a word of consolation - an endearing appellation, applied by the Saviour to the sick man to show his “compassion,” to inspire confidence, and to assure him that he would heal him.



We never saw it on this fashion - Literally, “We never saw it so.” We never saw anything like this.


 
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